The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-29
IRISH QUESTIONS.
The Crimes Bill Referred to the Committee
John Bright on Coercion.


LONDON, April 28.-In the House of Commons
this evening, the amendment to the crimes bill
offered by Mr.. Robert G. Reid, Liberal member
for Dumfres, that the House decline to proceed
with any measure directed against tenants com
bining for relief until full measure for their
relief is presented in Parliament. was rejected
by vote of 341 to 240. The bill was then re-
ferred to the committee of the whole.
In debate, before the vote on Mr.. Reds mo-
ton, Thomas Power O'Connor said it was the
duty Of the Parneltes to delay the crimes bill
as hostage for satisfactory remedial measures.
He aecused Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland,
Of gross ignorance respecting the state of that
country. and contended that if he himself had
dealt with crime in England on the basis on
which the Ministers favoring coercion dealt with
crime in Ireland, he could show state of things
truly appalling.
Mr.. Morley said the effect Of the bill would
be. not to prevent the withdrawal of capital
from Ireland, but to drive out the labor that
supported capital. The government had it's
own weak case to thank for prolonging the dis
cussion, the opposition being compelled to ex-
tract information piecemeal First, the govern
ment said the bill was intended to suppress
crime; then it directed against combina-
tions; now the government said the measure
was not aimed at combinations. Criticisng the
clauses OF the bill, he said the sting of the
Wnlteboy acts that they di
rected less against what was unlawful
in itself. than what two magistrates might hold
unlawful. He agreed that the laId-pnrchase
bill was needed but such measure would fail
to deal effectually with the congested districts.
If the government had such a strong belief in
remedial measures, why did they not trust en-
tirely to agrarlan measures. abstain from coer-
! cion, which in their hearts they knew would in
| evitably throw all Irish sentiment against their
! remedial legislation, and give renewed sire myth
/ to what they called lawless organizations. Any
| body could pass coercion BILL but any body
| could not undo its mischief 1t was because the
Liberals believed the measure would do unparal-
| leled mischief that they would continue to pro-
! test against it TO tile very end. Loud cheers. ]
John Bright has written letter in which he
says: No government Liberal or Conservative,
is likely TO promote measure like that before
Parliament, except under strong sense Of
necessity. Such measures bring a government
much difficulty rendering it unpopular and in
terfering with other measures with which the
Ministers are anxious to proceed. In 1881 and
i 1882 consented to measures of repression for
the sake of law and order l then rendered tha
government what l thought needful; what |
thought needful then think needful now, AMI
| will not condemn the present bill because 1t
| was introduced by Conservatives
The thirteen Irish constables who reeeaty re-
| signed their places rather than assist IN the
! forcement of evctons sailed from Queenstown
| for New York to-day on the steamship Adriatic.
They were accompanied to tine wharf by an inn
mense crowd OF sympathizers, who alternately